Harness.



J.. C. HARPHAM.

HARNESS.

ArPLIoAT'IoN FILED ooT.21, 1911.

1,023,147. Patented Apr.16,1912.

l Attorneys COLUMBIA FLANOGRAFH to., WAsHlNn-ruw. D. c.

JULIUS C. HARPHAM, OF LINCOLN, NEBRASKA.

HARNESS.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Application led October 21, 1911.

Patented Apr. 16, 1912.

Serial No. 655,989.

To all whom 'it may concern.'

. Be it known that I, JULIUs C. Harri-IAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lincoln, in the county of Lancaster' and State of Nebraska, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Harness, of which t-he following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in harness, more especially the breeching.

The invention has for its object to provide for readily detaching the breeching from the rest of the harness, as for instance, in effecting the conversion of the same as used in connection with a vehicle to use for plowing purposes and the like.

A further object is to carry out these ends in a simple, inexpensive and expeditious manner.

The invention consists of certain instrumentalities and features substantially as hereinafter fully described and defined by the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, illustrating the preferred embodiment of my invention wherein it will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made as relates to the detailed construction and arrangement of the parts without.. departing from the spirit thereof.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective of portions of a harness as the breeching and back-strap, disclosing` my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section t-aken through Fig. l, and Fig. 3 is a detached perspective of the back-strap and breeching connecting member.

In carrying out my invention, which, as above indicated, seeks to readily eectthe conversion of the harness from one form of use to another, I suitably connect to the back-strap l a keeper 2, the same being disposed in the direction of the length thereof, the method of effecting such connection being presently disclosed.

The keeper 2, preferably rectangular in general outline, includes a bottom-plate portion 3, having an outstanding central tongue 4 and perpendicular outstanding preferably rectangular end loop-members 5, for the passage therethrough of the otherwise free end of the back-strap 1. The end loop-members 5 have each an outstanding right-angled ledge 6 for aiding in holding the back-strap within said end-loop members. The plateportion 3 of the keeper member 2 is eX- tended at its ends, as at 7 the resultlng eX- tensions having apertures 8 therein near their outer ends for receiving fastenings 9, 9a, the purpose of which will be next stated.

The connection between the keeper 2 and the back-strap 1 is preferably effected by suitably inserting and securing one of the rivets 9, received by the apertures 8 of the end-extensions 7 of said keeper', through a shield-like base-member 11 and an additional reinforcing piece 12; between which member 11 and the back-strap 1 is sandwiched said member 12, the back-strap and members 11 and 12 all being secured together as at 13 opposite one end of the keeper 1. The other securing rivet 9a of the keeper 2 is also passed through the shield-like base piece 11 and a shaft-attaching strap 14, which strap is also sewed or otherwise secured as at 15 to said shieldlikebase member 11, the back-strap 1 and shaft attaching strap 14 all being secured to the keeper and the member 11 practically in continuation of each other, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The inner end-portions of the reinforcing member 12 and of the shaft attaching member 14 are formed tongue-like or reduced laterally or in width for a short distance in the direction of their lengths, as at 12a and 14a, respectively, the resulting tongue-like portions being received within the end-loops 5 of the keeper 2, thus effecting the retention of these otherwise unsecured portions against lateral and upward displacement, as is apparent.

The breeching member 16, including two thicknesses of material suitably secured together as usual, and having an aperture 17 therethrough for the reception of the stud 4 of the keeper 2, is received within the keeper 2, between the end loop-forming portions 5 thereof and transversely or at right angles to the direction of passage of the back-strap 1, received by said end-loop-forming portions as seen in Figs. 1 and 2, whereby the breeching member is not only held in effective position in its conjunction with the back-strap, but these parts are rendered readily separable by merely releasing the back-strap from the keeper. By reason of this arrangement or separability of the breeching and back-strap members, it is observed, as indicated at the outset, that the harness employed in connection with vehicles may be readily converted for use for plowing and like purposes as is believed has been made clearly apparent to t-hose familiar with this art.

What is claimed as new is l. A harness comprising a breeching member, a back-strap, a keeper including a tongue-equipped plate-member having apertured end-extensions and outstanding end loops adapted to receive said back-strap, said breeching member having apertured engagement with the tongue of said plate-member and being received between said end-loops, under said back-strap, and a base-member, a reinforcing member sandwiched between said back-strap and said base-member, and a shaft-attaching strap, all being secured together, said apertured end-extensions receiving rivets effecting connection therebetween and said base-member, said reinforcing member and said shaft-attaching strap.

2. A harness comprising a breeching member, a back-strap, a keeper, including a tongue-equipped plate-member having apertured end-eXtensions and outstanding endloops adapted to receive said back-strap said breeching-member having apertured engagement with the tongue of said platemember and being received between said end-loo-ps, under said back-strap, and a basemember, a reinforcing member sandwiched between said back-strap and said base-member, and a shaft-attaching strap, all being secured together, said aperturedY end extensions receiving rivets effecting connection therebetween and said base-member, said reinforcing member and said shaft-attaching strap, said reinforcing member and said shaft-attaching member having their inner end-portions received within said end-loops respectively.

In testimony that yI claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JULIUS C. HARPHAM.

Witnesses:

P. L. I-IAU, ROY B. I-Iosin.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. 

